Folding bed

ABSTRACT

This disclosure concerns improvements in portable folding beds or cots characterized by a mattress supporting frame having pivotally interconnected frame sections movable between a substantially parallel closed position and a substantially coplanar open position. At least one and preferably a pair of link elements depend from one of the frame sections pivotally to engage at a point beneath the frame corresponding control or support arms which depend from the other frame section. The link elements are preferably pivotally connected at both ends between the frame and arm portions. The pivot points of the link elements are preferably substantially aligned with the direction of forces tending to collapse or to sag the frame at its longitudinal center.

United States Patent 11 1 Fischer 1 FOLDING BED [76] Inventor: Jacob G. Fischer, 2178 N.

Jerusalem Rd., North Bellmore, NY. 11710 [22] Filed: May 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 359,450

[52] U.S. Cl. 5/111, 5/57 R [51] Int. Cl. A47c 19/12 [58] Field of Search ..5/1l0,lll,l12,149, 151,

5/154, 57 R, 57 E, 57 C, 57 D; 272/65 v 1 v 3,840,912 1 Oct. 15,1974

Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Darby & Darby 5 7 ABSTRACT This disclosure concerns improvements in portable folding beds or cots characterized by a mattress supporting frame having pivotally interconnected frame sections movable between a substantially parallel closed position and a substantially coplanar open position. At least one and preferably a pair of link elements depend from one of the frame sections pivotally to engage at a point beneath the frame corresponding control or support arms which depend from the other frame section. The link elements are preferably pivotally connected at both ends between the frame and arm portions. The pivot points of the link elements are preferably substantially aligned with the direction of forces tending to collapse or to sag the frame at its longitudinal center.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDBBT I W 3,840.9 1 2 FOLDING BED The present invention relates to folding beds, and more particularly to improvements in portable or storable folding cots having a pair of pivotally interconnected mattress supporting frame elements movable between open and closed bed positions.

Beds of this general type have long been known in the art. The salient feature of such beds, and that which has given rise to certain difficulties which the present invention effectively overcomes, concerns the hinge construction for interconnecting the two major frame sections for the bed. In the usual embodiments of such beds, the hinge elements are adapted to permit the frame members to be moved relative to each other between an open substantially coplanar position and a closed but spaced parallel position in which the mattress is folded and contained therebetween. Such disparate movement from folded storage to fully opened position of the two frame sections has resulted, heretofore, in hinging mechanisms of various complexity to allow for proper relative movement of the frame members in the closing direction, but which must resist collapse or sagging tendencies at the breaking point when the cot is opened level for use.

The typical prior art approach toward eliminating sag at the center of a folding cot of the present type has been the provision of vertical support in the form of one or more central legs, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,513,168 to Gottlieb and also in U.S. Pat. No. 2,397,017 to Krakauer.

The use of such an additional vertical central leg, however, severely complicates the hinging mechanism of the folding cot, particularly since the additional leg must be adapted to be folded into a compactrelationship with the rest of the cot. Under such circumstances, complex linkage must be supplied to manipulate the central leg with the same facility available for manipulating the remaining legs, thereby increasing the size and weight of the cot. The result is an undesirably high cost of manufacture.

Other prior art techniques for preventing collapse or sag at the center of the folding beds of thetype described have utilized fixed hinge links protruding obliquely upwardly from the frame members and pivoted together at the top to act as a locking fulcrum, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,231,993 to Fischer. One disadvantage of this prior design is that the fixed hinge links may project above the mattress surface, particularly when the mattress sags under heavy pressure or as the result of old age. There is, therefore, the possibility that such upwardly projecting linkage may expose an individual using the cot to the risk of injury.

The present invention obviates these and other difficulties and disadvantages inherent in the prior type of folding bed construction preferably by providing at least a pair of pivotally interconnected link elements connected to and convergingly depending from the major frame sections of the bed to a point beneath the frame sections which is substantially aligned with the direction of the major component of force tending to collapse or sag the frame at the longitudinal center. Thus, component forces acting at the break point between the frame members in a direction tending to cause sag of one frame member relative to the other when the bed is open, are transmitted along the depending links to act against the major supportive legs of the bed thereby to become relatively innocuous. The

frame elements are accordingly, locked against collapse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a further understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompaning drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation of the frame elements and interconnected linkage of a bed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view in elevatiaon detailing the linkage mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view in elevation of the bed linkagae of the present invention shown in the partial act of folding; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the bed of the present invention fully collapsed or folded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a folding bed, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, consists of a pair of pivotally interconnected substantially U-shaped frame members or sections 11 and 12 which provide the basic frame support for a mattress 13, shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Folding beds of the type with respect to which the present invention is concerned, generally take the form of folding cots which are manually opened to, or closed from, an'ormal substantially horizontal bed operating position. In such beds, the U-shaped frame members 11 and 12 are quite common and their detailed construction is well known to those having skill in the pertinent art.

The pivoting interconnection between the frame members 11 and 12 may be accomplished in several ways, subject to the requirement that the frame members, when manipulated to the storage position for the cot, are positioned in spaced parallel relationship, as depicted in FIG. 4,'sufficient to enclose between them the folded mattress 13.

In the preferred embodiment, the improvement of the present invention relates, in part, to the hinge mechanism which connects the frame members. With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the major hinge for the frame sections 11 and 12 consists of a pair of preferably substantially flat. metal spacer links 14 which pivotally interconnect adjacent ends 16 and 17 of the frame sections 11 and 12 respectively.

It should be understood that while only one such spacer link 14 is depicted in the drawings, which illustrate only one side of the bed, the linkage on the other side of the bed is substantially identical to that shown, and accordingly is superfluous for an understanding of the inventive concepts embodied in preferred form in the folding bed illustrated.

While the spacer links 14 are indicated as preferably having a downwardlycurving configuration extending below the plane of the level frame members, it will be understood that the hinge interconnection between the frame members 11 and 12 may conveniently take the form of pairs of hinged levers (not shown) respectively riveted to the frame members and hingedly connected together by means of suitable pivot pin connectors.

The major hinge elements for the frame sections of the bed, in whatever form, need not, for purposes of the invention, have a curved or depending configuration. However, such hinge elements, in accordance with the invention, do not protrude above the plane of the mattress supporting frame,

In the preferred emmbodiment, a pair of identical control links 18 are mounted adjacent the inner end 17 of the frame member 12. As indicated above, the present drawings depict only one side of the folding bed 10, and accordingly, only one control link 18 may be seen in FIGS. 2-4. Control link 18 is mounted adjacent the inner end 17 of sidearm 12a of frame section 12. The other end of each of links 18 is pivotally mounted to a respective sidearm 19 of a substantially U-shape yoke 21. The yoke 21 is preferably pivotally mounted adjacent the inner end 16 of side arm 11a of the other frame member 11.

The yoke 21 provides a strengthening crossbrace for the mattress supporting frame of the bed. The control links 18 serve the purpose of manipulating the yoke 21 into and out of its supportive positions as the bed is being respectively opened or closed.

it should be noted, however, that the details of construction and operation of the control links 18 and the yoke 21 will be well known to those having skill in the pertinent art, and accordingly need not be described in significant detail herein.

With reference to FIG. 1, longitudinal slots at 22 and 23 are provided respectively in the side arms 11a and 12a of the frame members 11 and 12 for the purpose of slidably receiving pin pivots 24 and 26 acting to join to the frame members interiorly located ends of collapsible leg structures 27 and 28. Control links 29 and 31 may be suitably connected to the frame members of the bed for the purpose of automatically extending or folding the collapsible legs 27 and 28 during opening and closing of the bed.

Suitable linkage for this purpose, and disclosure of the operation of such linkage, may be found in the [5.8. Pat. No. 2,231,993 to G. .l. Fischer, and reference is made to the disclosure of that patent for an understanding of this operation of the folding bed.

Folding beds of the general type disclosed herein may also be provided with an upwardly extending U-shaped frame 32 which may serve both as a pillow rest and an automatic latching and release mechanism for the closed bed position.

Suitable control linkage for manipulating such pillow rest into and out of its operational position as the foldable bed is being opened or closed respectively may be found in US. Pat. NO. 2,600,104 to .l. G. Fischer, and reference is made to the disclosure of that patent for details of construction and operation of the head or pillow rest portions of the folding cot.

' in accordance with the invention, additional support linkage is mounted adjacent the inner end of one of the frame members and protrudes below the plane of the bed frame for pivotal engagement with a corresponding portion of the other frame member. An exemplary link structure is shown in FIG. 2. There is provided a pair of metal arms 33, one on each side of the frame, which are pivotally connected to frame section 11 and protrude downwardly to a point beneath the bed frame to engage respective control links 18. As illustrated, each support link 33 is affixed to the frame member 11 by means of a flange 34 which is riveted to the side arm 11a. However, it should be understood that the support links 33 need not be affixed to the bedframe in the manner shown, and that other techniques may be equally suitable.

For example, under some circumstances, it may be desirable to provide a suitable cross brace (not shown) which connects the inner ends 16 of sidearms 11a of the frame member 11, and to locate a depending support link substantially at the center of such brace for protrusion beneath the plane of the bedframe. The other frame member 12 may similarly be adapted to provide a corresponding suitably dependent support element (not shown) for engagement with such link thereby to secure the frame members at the break point between sections 11 and 12 against collapse or undesirable sagging.

Other alternatives may be developed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it may be desirable permanently to affix depending support links to their respective frame members irrespective of their particular location on'such frame members. interconnection between such support links may be permanent or effected only when the bed is fully opened for use. I

A significant aspect of the inventive improvements to folding beds embodied in the examples set forth herein concerns the substantial alignment of the pivoted ends of the support link 33 along the line of application of forces having the tendency to collapse or create sag in the bed frame at its longitudinal center. This requirement is met, of course, by a support link which is either substantially straight or somewhat curved as shown particularly in FIG. 2. Such pivot point alignment is called for where the support link 33 is pivotally connected at both ends to the frame, as described above.

It is important to note that the function of the locking fulcrum established between the support link 33 and the control link 18 in the preferred embodiment, is to enable the relatively unsupported and otherwise collapsible inner end of the frame member 11 to draw support from the adjacent frame member 12 which, in the instance disclosed, is sufficiently supported by the legs 28.

Although the foregoing invention concepts have been described in connection with a foldable bed having a particular configuration, it is of course possible for persons having skill in the pertinent art to devise configurations other than those detailed above which nevertheless utilize interconnecting linkage elements falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:'

l. A mattress supporting folding bed structure comprising:

first and second frame sections for supporting the mattress thereon,

means pivotally interconnecting said first and second frame sections to provide movement thereof between a closed bed position wherein said sections are substantially mutually parallel and a second open bed position where said frame sections are substantially coplanar, said pivotal interconnection means comprising, 7

a first arm pivotally connected to and depending downwardly from said first frame section when the structure is in the open position,

a first control link, means pivotally connecting one end of said control link to said first arm and pivot ally connecting the other end of said control link to said second frame section,

a spacer link, means pivotally connecting one end of said spacer link to a fixed point on said first frame section and means for pivotally connecting the other end of said spacer link to a fixed point on said second frame section,

a support link, means pivotally connecting one end of said support link to a fixed point on said first frame section, and means pivotally connecting the other end of said support link to a point intermediate of said first control link, said support link limiting the pivoting action of said first and second frames with respect to each other about the pivot points of said first control link to substantially said open coplanar position as said frame sections are pivoted from said closed to said open position.

2. A structure as in claim 1 further comprising a tab attached to and extending above said first frame section, said fixed point at which said one end of said support link is pivotally connected to said frame section being on said tab.

3. A structure as in claim 1 further comprising a tab attached to and extending above said first frame section, said fixed point at which said one end of link said first support links and said spacer link are pivotably connected to said first frame section being on said tab.

4. A structure as in claim 1 further comprising a pair of elongated control arms, means for pivotally connecting one end of both of said control arms to the same one of said first and second sec-tions, means for slidably connecting the other end of each of said control arms to a respective one of said first and second frame sections, and foldable leg means connected to and operated by the other end of each of said control arms to a position to support said structure when in the open position.

5. A structure as in claim 16 further comprising a pair of elongated control arms, means for pivotally connecting one end of both of said control arms to the same one of said first and second sections, means for slidably connecting the other end of each of said control arms to a respective one of said first and second frame sections, and foldable leg means connected to and operated by the other end of each of said control arms to a position to support said structure when in the open position.

6. A structure as in claim 5 wherein a point of one of said control arms engages and is supported by a part of said spacer link.

7. A structure as in claim 1 wherein said first control link and said support link have substantial portions second frames.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,840,912 Dated October 15, 1974 Inventor(s) JACOB G. FISCHER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 6, change "accompaning" to accompanying Column 2, line 12, "elevatiaon" should be elevation Column 2, line 15, change "linkagae" to linkage cgl 3 li 7 rr t the spelling of "embodiment". Column 5, claim 3, line 3, delete "link" Column 5, claim 3, line 4, change "links" to link I Column 6, claim 5, line 1, change "16" to 2 Signed and sealed this 13th day of March 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks FORM PC4050 (10 69) USCOMM'DC 6375-P69 0.5. GOVIINIIINT PRINTING OFFICE ll. 0-8I-384, 

1. A mattress supporting folding bed structure comprising: first and second frame sections for supporting the mattress thereon, means pivotally interconnecting said first and second frame sections to provide movement thereof between a closed bed position wherein said sections are substantially mutually parallel and a second open bed position where said frame sections are substantially coplanar, said pivotal interconnection means comprising, a first arm pivotally connected to and depending downwardly from said first frame section when the structure is in the open position, a first control link, means pivotally connecting one end of said control link to said first arm and pivotally connecting the other end of said control link to said second frame section, a spacer link, means pivotally connecting one end of said spacer link to a fixed point on said first frame section and means for pivotally connecting the other end of said spacer link to a fixed point on said second frame section, a support link, means pivotally connecting one end of said support link to a fixed point on said first frame section, and means pivotally connecting the other end of said support link to a point intermediate of said first control link, said support link limiting the pivoting action of said first and second frames with respect to each other about the pivot points of said first control link to substantially said open coplanar position as said frame sections are pivoted from said closed to said open position.
 2. A structure as in claim 1 further comprising a tab attached to and extending above said first frame section, said fixed point at which said one end of said support link is pivotally connected to said frame section being on said tab.
 3. A structure as in claim 1 further comprising a tab attached to and extending above said first frame section, said fixed point at which said one end of link said first support links and said spacer link are pivotably connected to said first frame section being on said tab.
 4. A structure as in claim 1 further comprising a pair of elongated control arms, means for pivotally connecting one end of both of said control arms to the same one of saId first and second sections, means for slidably connecting the other end of each of said control arms to a respective one of said first and second frame sections, and foldable leg means connected to and operated by the other end of each of said control arms to a position to support said structure when in the open position.
 5. A structure as in claim 16 further comprising a pair of elongated control arms, means for pivotally connecting one end of both of said control arms to the same one of said first and second sections, means for slidably connecting the other end of each of said control arms to a respective one of said first and second frame sections, and foldable leg means connected to and operated by the other end of each of said control arms to a position to support said structure when in the open position.
 6. A structure as in claim 5 wherein a point of one of said control arms engages and is supported by a part of said spacer link.
 7. A structure as in claim 1 wherein said first control link and said support link have substantial portions thereof located below the plane of the structure for supporting the mattress when said first and second frames are in the open position.
 8. A structure as in claim 1 wherein there is a similar means for pivotally interconnecting said first and second frames on each side of said frame.
 9. A structure as in claim 8 further comprising a brace arm fixedly connected to said first arm of each of said means for pivotally interconnecting the first and second frames. 